Aussies spend four hours a day watching TV: ABS

ADULTS around the country spent a month watching television in 2011-12, new data revealed on Friday.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed Australians spend about four hours a day watching TV, up to 13 hours total per week, or an entire month per year.

Figures also showed men spend about 45 minutes more on the computer than women do (5.5 hours compared to 4.8 hours), and about 40 minutes longer playing electronic games.

Australian men and women average more than two months each year on sedentary activities - 65 days for men and 61 days for women, including sitting down on public transport.

Dr Paul Jelfs, from the ABS, said one in three workers also spent at least three-quarters of their time sitting, with professionals spending 22-23 hours a week sitting compared with four hours a week for labourers.

"Some adults that sit more may try to compensate for this by exercising more," he said.

"For example, working adults in households with incomes in the top 20% spent more time (30.4 hours compared to 19.5 hours a week) sitting for work and transport but spent more time exercising - an average of 4.7 hours compared to 3.5 hours for other workers."